The Labor enquirer., 1887-12-10

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b ] ~ - - ouBoRing from
q poVoE(y vtl5k ~ 11ccd most Of then
- uotl3o0o ~ ~ (11 ma prices o
pt0lzueo - . ~. = - olBor no relie
ezeePe eesce(A ec1lnlPtey. LaborerI
~ sinking IN Gscotof md greater de
peedenea GlEi11o ~ Ioooeted 70 with
OF relief boeenqo 6 ~ inability Of en-
ployen n n6ny olocS - pay living wages
vhiie more snd mogo ozo driven into th,
stRoets. B1eineB non ind collections al
most impoosible, uea1time hundreds Of
millions of idIe p1b,ie money which il
needed for rslisf + looked up in the
United 6tatss treasury IN grim mockery
Of ths distgeas; land monopoly hourishel
- never known bolore, and more and
more owners Of the sofl are daily becom.
ing tenants. Great transportation corpo,
rations still succeed n extorting theii
PROFITS upon vatersd'itook through unjust
charges. The United States senate has
become an open scandal, its seats being
purchased By the rich IN open defiance OF
the popular win. I tsiAing fisheries dis.
pute h ssissd upon - an excuse for nee.
esssry military preparations which are
designed 10 breed spirit Of war, 10 ape
European despotisn, and to empty the
treasury without paying the public debt
Under these and other alarming condi-
tions We appeal 70 the people of the
whole country 70 come out of the old
party Organisations, where indifference
TO the public welfare il responsible foI
this distress, and help ~ to organize O
new political party, not sectional but ma
tional, whose members shall be called
commoners, whose object shall be TO re.
peal all class laws In favor of the rich, and
to relieve the distress Of our industries
by establishing the following principles:
l. Land-Every human being possesses
. natural, inaliensbleN right to sufficient
land for self support, and We desire to Sc.
cure to ever industrious citizen home as
the highest result Of free institutions. To
this end We desire . graduated land tax
on all land estates, especially those held
for speculative or tenant purpose; the re-
claimation of all unearned land grants
the immediate opening of Oklahoma to
homestead settlement; the purchase OF
all unoccupied Indian lands, and the set
tlement Of the various tribes in severalty;
also laws preventing corporations from
real estate beyond the requir-
ments Of their business, and alien owner
ship Of land. The system of irrigation,
in states and territories where necessary,
shall be under such public control as shall
secure the free and equitable use of the
waters and franchises to the people.
2. Transportation-The means of com
or transportation should be
controlled by the people, as is the United
States postal system, and equitable rates
everywhere established.
8. Money-The establishment of ma
tional monetary system in the interest OF
the producer instead Of the speculator
and usurer by which circulating medium
in necessary quantity and full legal ten
der, shall be issued directly to the peo-
pie, without the Intervention of banks, or
loaned to citizens upon ample security at
q low rate of interest to relieve them from
the extortions Of usury and enable them
to control the money supply. Postal saw
ings banks should be established. While
we have free coinage Of gold, we should
have free coinage Of silver. We demand
the prompt payment Of the national debt
and condemn the further issue of interest
bearing bonds, either by the national gov
ernment, or by states, territories, counties
or municipalities.
I. Decentralization should take the
place of strikes and other injurious meth
DDS of settling labor disputes; the letting OF
convict labor to contractors be prohibited
the contract system be abolished in pub
lie works; the hours Of labor in industrial
estabI'shmtnt nts be reduced commensurate
with the increase Of production in labor.
saving machinery; employees to be pro
tected from bodily injury; equal pay be-
Iug giver. for equal work for both sexes
and labor, agricultural and cooperative
associations be favored and incorporated
by law. The foundation of republic is
the intelligence of it's citizens, and chill
dren who are driven into worI shops,
mines and factories are deprived of edu-
cation which should be secured by proper
legislation. We desire to see labor organ
izations extend throughout all civilized
countries, until it shall be impossible for
despots to array the workingmen of one
country in war against their brothers Of
another country.
8. Soldiers and Sailors-In apprecia-
tion of the services of United States sol
diers and sailors We demand for them JUS
tice before charity. The purposely de
preciatei monev paid them 51s:ng the
war should be made equal in value to the
gold paid the bondholder. The soldier
was promised geld or its equivalent and
was paid in deprecated paper. The bond
holder loaned the government deprecated
paper and contracted to take 1t back, bu
was paid in gold.
6. Income Taxa graduated income
10 the most equitable system of taxation
placing the burden Of government OF
those who can best afford to pay, insteat
of laying it on the farmers and producers
and exempting millionaire bondholderl
and corporations.
Z. United States Senate-The capture
of the United States senate by million
aires and and tools Of corporations vht
have no sympathy with free institutions
threatens the very existence of the repub
lie. We demand constitutional amend
ment making United States senator's elect
i've by direct vote Of the people.